Romantic Spiced Cookies

For the dough, whisk the egg whites with the lemon juice until stiff. Gradually add the icing sugar and continue whisking until glossy. Next, mix in the vanilla seeds, cinnamon and a pinch of ammonium bicarbonate. Add approx. 300 g of the hazelnuts and work to a smooth dough that does not stick to your hands.

Sprinkle the remaining nuts over the work surface and roll the dough out to a thickness of approx. 6 mm. Use floured cutters to cut out stars and letters of your choice. Line a baking tray with grease-proof paper and transfer the biscuits to the tray.

For the icing, whisk the egg white with the lemon juice until stiff. Trickle in the icing sugar and mix to a thick icing. Spread over the uncooked biscuits and leave to dry, ideally overnight.

Heat the oven to 140°C (120°C in a fan oven), 275°F, gas 1.